Family of Five

We are full. 

Full of love...

Full of warmth....

Full of kids and dogs and chinchillas and gold fish and hermit crabs......

Door. Is. Shut.

We are happy.  We are blessed.  We are full.

Introducing.....Rigby.

She is a gorgeous timid soft sweet HUGE-footed kind Irish Wolfhound. 

I think she is the PERFECT last addition, don't you?

And he does.

Beware.

Weighing in at 19 pounds (most of it pure fluff) at 9 weeks....

he is...

The Rapster.

Does he fear anything??? 
Not so far. 

Does he think he can conquer the giant cheetah ball?

Yes.  Yes he does.

Will he succeed? 

I'll let you know. 

We had to postpone our trip to get sweet puppy # 2 due to a massive snowstorm in South Dakota.

If we don't receive the projected 5-9 inches of snow the weather channel says we may get tonight, then hopefully tomorrow we will be a 2 dog family.

The fact that Rapp isn't intimidated by a giant ball is good news, considering that his soon-to-be doggie pal weighed 25 pounds last week.

I'll let you know about that, too.

What do you do when you live in the forsaken frozen wasteland midwest and the cursed wise little groundhog has run in fear from his shadow again?

You take that snow and make....well....snow ice cream!

Some fresh snow (do NOT use the stuff under the bird feeder boys!) some vanilla, some milk and a whole lot of sugar makes VERY happy kindergartners!

Then....since we still have PLENTY of snow, you use the RH* method of shoveling the drive.

Well done, RH..... well done.

Then, because we certainly wouldn't want to come inside and leave all that white fluffy crud frozen miracle outside.....

Scoop it up and bring it in with you.

Frosty.....meet your worst nightmare.

It's called...........a bubble bath.

There's SO much you can do with snow in a bath!

You can take they boys' route and throw it at each other....

 Or you can take Carolyn's idea and rub it all over yourself.......

Or....you can play the best game of all.

It goes like this.

Ethan goes underwater and Bennett and Carolyn dump copious amounts of snow on his head and in front of him.  Then Ethan sinks down and runs into the snow, goes to the bottom of the tub, then pops up and yells, "I'm sunk!"

They call this game, "Titantic".

My kids are kinda weird. 

Cute.....but weird.

Happy snow day(S)!

                                                             *RH= redneck husband

Introducing the newest family member..........

Isn't he PRECIOUS?????  

(Not the husband.....although he is lovely on the eyes too!)

This is Rapp.  He's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and he's about 8 weeks old.

The name comes from a character in a series of novels by Vince Flyn....apparently the guy is some beefed up James Bond type.  Barrett picked it....go figure.

Anyway, he IS awfully cute!

The dog!  The dog is cute!  (Although my son IS awfully lovely as well!)

Welcome little pup.....can't wait till your other furry friend arrives this weekend!

Cookies and milk for six.....

Don't you love after school/nap snacks?

Then, as a favor to their dear mom/aunt who worked SO hard to prepare this delicacy.....shouldn't these beautifes pose for a lovey picture when sweet mommy/aunt asks??

Scarlett cheesed out.....

Carolyn and Ashley started dancing for the camera....

Ethan showed off his massive muscles by pushing himself up on the coffee table...

And Bennett.....

Sweet Bennettt..... 

Well, this is what the nine year old shows me when I asked him to smile for the camera.

Nice.  Really nice. 

Can't wait to see the teenage years....